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Rubin For Temple Beth Avodah. Broadly, two sorts of theories have been floated. One is that Jews have primo genes. Throughout the generations we have given great honor to this intellectual pursuit. There are good reasons to doubt both sorts of theories. For one thing, Jewish excellence in science is a new thing.
When the great Jewish folklorist Joseph Jacobs set out in to compare the talents of Jews with the talents of other Westerners, he found their performance mediocre in every science save medicine. The real explanation of Jewish success in science lies elsewhere. The 20th century began with massive migrations of Jews, to the United States, to the cities of Russia and then the Soviet Union , and to Palestine.
In each of these new lands, Jews turned to science in great numbers because it promised a way to transcend the old world orders that had for so long excluded most Jews from power, wealth and society. Science, based as it is on values of universality, impartiality and meritocracy, appealed powerfully for Jews seeking to succeed in their new homes.
It is not so much what Jews were smart, bookish that explains their success in science, as what we wanted to be equal, accepted, esteemed , and in what sorts of places we wanted to live liberal and meritocratic societies. I would have nothing against devoting a week each year to tweeting, blogging and chatting about how Jews rule when it comes to Nobel Prizes, and totally rock as scientists, were it not for the fact that our self-congratulation keeps us from seeing something that matters.
Nobel Prizes are a lagging indicator. Are Swedes therefore smarter than women? Given years after the achievements they celebrate, often to long-retired scientists, they reflect a state of affairs that existed 30, 40, and sometimes 50 years ago.
They are a browning snapshot of bygone days. The passions that drew Jews to sciences in such great numbers have dissipated.
There is no good reason to expect that the remarkable contributions of Jews to science will continue for generations to come.
It seems like the stellar track record of Jews at the Nobels has not gone to the heads of all recipients — or at least to the heads of their spouses. In , S.
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